SALVACION TRAINING WITH PHILIPPINE NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM

Shelby Salvacion will train with the Philippine Women's National team for the next seven days.

Nov 16, 2012

FULLERTON, Calif. - Sacramento State women's soccer forward Shelby Salvacion is among a group of 40+ high school and collegiate soccer players trying out for the Philippine Women's National Soccer teams this week.

Salvacion, who recently completed her sophomore season for the Hornets, is taking part in a tryout organized by Philippine Women's National team head coach Ernie Nierras at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Stadium. The training camp, which runs from Nov. 15-22, includes both morning and evening practices plus games against professional teams from Los Angeles.

"We want to identify as many Filipino-Americans and Filipino-Canadians for the women's national team senior pool as well as the U-19 and U-16 pools," Nierras told PinoyFootball.com. "I want to establish a system of identifying those players for the next 10 years."

"I wasn't sure what to think but once I got here I saw how big of a deal this really is," Salvacion said. "It's not just representing yourself or your school but an entire country. It's a great honor to get invited to particiapate."

Salvacion, a San Jose, Calif., native and graduate of Branham HS, overcame season-ending injuries during each of her first two seasons with the Hornets to start 14 games this year. She scored her first career goal in a 4-0 win over UC Santa Cruz and was fourth on the team with 28 shots.

Not only will the players be looked at for the national team, nicknamed the Malditas, but for a women's league being formed in the Philippines.

"This opens up my eyes to bigger things," Salvacion said. "I always thought after college, my career would be over. But now I know there is a chance at something out there that I can look forward too and that only motivates me more."